Volume No. 7 January - February 2016 Issue No. 1 From the Editor’s desk… Let’s contribute to making this world a peaceful and happy place. We have, as part of our journey in this endeavour, presented to you a brief on 25 countries (one from each alphabet, except X). We hope you learn more about the planet we live in. I thank all contributors from each of the Sanmartini teams in making this very special to us. When you’re down and out, there seems no hope at all But if you just believe there’s no way we can fall Let us realize that a change can only come When we stand together as one! Michael Jackson & Lionel Richie – ‘We Are The World’ Together… One World All the best for 2016. A American Samoa Capital: Pago Pago Currency: US Dollar Language: Samoan It’s a subconscious truth that the happiest moments of our life often reside in the minute and unrecognised things. It goes true for countries as well where some of the people still live by their Did You Know? values and cherish them but aren’t so recognised in the modern • The only animals on the islands world. One such country is American Samoa, home of a small are rats, snakes and a few birds. group of Polynesians residing in Samoan islands. American • In Samoa, young men are in Samoa consists of five main islands and two coral atolls. This charge of the food - including wonderful community (That’s right – the whole country is the gathering and the cooking. almost a single community sharing a common religion of Christianity among them), shares a deep empathic relationship among them and their family members. Let us take a glide along this wonderful country and see how different they are from us. for us. These people eat together and offer meals to their children American Samoan economy thrives on their fine skills of farming only after the eldest member of the family, has it. Elders are most and their innate ability to make exquisite articles. Being an island, respected and their decisions are obeyed. They guide the whole exporting fish is a very profitable business option for them and family and children learn about the cultural heritage of their every year Samoans export country by observing their elders. Children consider elders as canned tuna worth millions their idols and follow their advice. What else could be the real of dollars to the US. worth of a life than to leave a cultured generation behind! The system of governance is Apart from their valued culture, they also share a passion for very effective among them. certain games like wrestling, rugby etc. They have reached the Group of extended families quarter-finals of Rugby World Cup several times. How interesting constitute an aiga and each it is to know that Diwali is also celebrated here! Several movie aiga is headed by matai who scenes including from the Lord of the Rings have been shot here. in turn has a chief heading it Samoan islands have wonderful beauty gushing around and it’s known as the ali’i. definitely a place that will create memories. In case you are excited The tragic part is that while wondering how it would be like to wander free on beautiful our homes got bigger, our hearts shrunk. Though number of islands sipping their traditional kava (a local drink made from the hospitals and care homes soared, our desire to care and empathise root of the pepper plant) and your wallet being excited too, take a with elders got marginalised. Looking the way these Samoans live tour of the Samoan islands and give yourself a treat of a lifetime! their lives, I remember those three little words “PURSUIT OF Mukul Kumar Jha, Technical Services, Chemplast Sanmar, HAPPINESS”. Perhaps it is “care” that separates humans from Cuddalore (Team Socrates). the fauna kingdom and this small community is a fine reminder 2 Ia manuia le Tausaga Fou! Barbados B Capital: Bridgetown Currency: Barbadian Dollar Language: English Barbados traditions are drawn from the West African and British cultures that shaped the island. The majority of the Did You Know? population is of African origin. However the island was a • It is well known that the Mongoose in colony of the British Empire for over 300 years and so the Barbados never crosses the road unless English influence is very strong. someone is watching. • Barbados has the 23rd highest ratio of The architecture is largely in Victorian, Georgian and cars per miles of road! No wonder there Jacobean styles. Many of these buildings remain today, is traffic! especially in our World Heritage Site. These European styles were adapted for the Caribbean climate with the use of large open verandas and gable roofs. During festivals, the tuk band (a collection of usually brightly attired musicians playing a bass drum, kettle drum Barbados and pennywhistle) generally accompanied by costumed has a strong figures such as the “Shaggy Bear”, “Mother Sally” and cricketing “Green Monkey” make their performances. This tradition tradition; it has is a call to get up and dance, or at least tap your feet! The produced some songs of the tuk band are a blend of African music, with its of the world’s heavy drum influence, and British folk music. finest cricketers Cou-cou and flying fish is the national dish of Barbados. including Sir Garfield Sobers, the 3 Ws (Worrell, Walcott Cou-cou is made from corn meal and okras. It is traditionally and Weekes) and the legendary opening pair Greenidge served with steamed flying fish in a tomato-based sauce and Haynes. The sport of road tennis was invented in but may also be served with salt fish, red herring or stew. Barbados in the 1930s. Dominos is incredibly popular in Another popular dish is “pudding and souse.” Pudding is Barbados. Kite flying and pitching marbles are popular steamed sweet potato. Souse is pickled pork. Souse was childhood pastimes. traditionally made from the scrap parts of the pig but today Some of the annual festivals are Crop Over – it reflects the is often made from lean pork meat. Pudding and souse history of the sugar industry, a protest against injustice and are usually served with pickled sweet potato or pickled the ultimate liberation of enslaved people. The Holetown breadfruit. The pickle is a combination of lime, cucumber, Festival – it commemorates the arrival of the first British onion and hot peppers. settlers and The Oistins Fish Festival – this pays tribute to W Jesulin Edberg, Instrumentation, Chemplast Sanmar, those who work in the fishing industry. Cuddalore (Team Socrates). Happy New Year! 3 C Cyprus Capital: Nicosia Currency: Euro Language: Greek The Republic of Cyprus, is an European island nation in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea, close to Syria and Turkey. It is a country with more tourists visiting it (2.4 million) Did You Know? than its population (1.2 million, 1000 times less than India!). It is popular as it enjoys 340 days of sunshine! • There are more than 1950 species of flowering plants in The nation which Cyprus, 140 of which are found got independence nowhere else in the world. (from England) on • I260 species of fish circle the 16 August 1960, warm Mediterranean waters has as its capital around Cyprus. city Nicosia, the last divided capital in Europe. This is a result of a clash Halloumi cheese originated in Cyprus and was initially between the Greek made during the Medieval Byzantine period. Halloumi and Turkish groups. (Hellim) is commonly served, sliced – either fresh or From 1974 to date, one third of the island remains a grilled, as an appetiser. Grilled food over charcoal are Turkish administered area. called souvla. Pourgori is a type of bread common in Cyprus is said to be the birthplace of Aphrodite (Venus), Cyprus. Seafood is very common, given that the country the Greek Goddess of Love also known as Kypris or the is an island! The mezedes is a large collection of different (Cyprian). The myth says that she rose from the sea at dishes served in small helpings – in a planned order to Petra tou Romiou in Pafo. enhance the taste and texture. About 79% are Greek and 18% are Turkish on the entire Syrtos, folk dance performed by men and women in a island. If we consider only the part recognised by the UN, circle, is very popular in social gatherings, weddings and the Greek side, then, nearly everyone is Greek. Nearly religious festivals. It symbolises the harmony between 3000 Indians also reside in Cyprus – primarily those male and female roles in the Cypriot society. working in the IT industry. Antikristos is a dance where men and women gracefully Marcos Baghdatis – A tennis player from Cyprus became dance together in couples, in rows across from each other famous for his stunt shots, Baghdatis was ranked 8th to express the joy of life and love. in the world, was a finalist at the Australian Open, and G Sanjay Kumar, SRSTI, Chemplast Sanmar, Cuddalore reached the Wimbledon semi-final, all in 2006. (Team Socrates). 4 Καλή Χρονιά Dominican Republic D Capital: Santo Domingo Currency: Dominican Peso Language: Spanish The Dominican Republic is located on the island of borrowed words from indigenous Caribbean languages Hispaniola, in the Greater Antilles archipelago in the particular to the island of Hispaniola. The cuisine is Caribbean region. Christopher Columbus arrived in predominantly Spanish, Taino and African. The typical Hispaniola on December 5th 1492 and claimed the land cuisine is quite similar to what can be found in other for Spain.